The selected restaurants have been divided into five categories: Gourmet, Business, Trendy, Budget and Personal Recommendations. The restaurants are listed alphabetically within these different categories, which serve as guidelines rather than absolute definitions of the establishments.

There is a 7.25% restaurant tax in Las Vegas for both eat-in and takeaway purchases. The tax is normally added to the bill at the time of payment, although some buffets and fast-food chains may incorporate the tax in their prices. Service charges are unusual in Las Vegas (except for parties of 8-10 or more); it is more usual to leave a 10-20% tip.

The prices quoted below are for an average three-course meal for one person and for a bottle of house wine or cheapest equivalent; they do not include sales tax or tip.

Gourmet

Buccaneer Bay Restaurant

Overlooking Treasure Island’s famous pirate show Sirens of TI, the Buccaneer Bay promises a unique atmosphere as well as gourmet food. The cuisine is American and features mains such as generous portions of prime rib or shrimp scampi saute. Guests also get a bird’s-eye view of Treasure Island’s ship battle below in Sirens Cove, although the Old World stately charm of the restaurant is atmosphere enough. The dress code is ‘dressy casual’. Open Wed-Sun from 1700-2300. Reservations essential. No lunch.

Eiffel Tower Restaurant

The Paris Las Vegas’ unique tribute to the French Eiffel Tower is a slightly smaller rendition but includes a luxury restaurant on the 11th floor, with one of Las Vegas’ best scenic views. Featuring gastronomic feats such as lobster thermidor ‘Eiffel Tower’ and roast rack of lamb Provençale with tarragon jus, the restaurant endeavours to capture the ambience of Europe’s most romantic city. For those who wish to savour more than one dish, there is also a tasting menu with a changing selection of the chef’s best culinary creations. Reservations recommended. No lunch.

Le Cirque

It has stood for 25 years as a temple to gastronomy and epicenter for the New York City power-dining scene; Le Cirque has thrived inside the Bellagio on The Strip since the hotel/casino’s opening. Restaurateur Sirio Maccioni brings a touch of the ringmaster to this whimsical jewel that sits comfortably along the lake overlooking the famous Fountains of Bellagio.

The silk tented ceiling and polished woods offer a sumptuous surrounding and menu items such as braised rabbit in Riesling with spaetzle or lobster salad ‘Le Cirque’ with black truffle dressing have earned the restaurant the AAA Five Diamond award for 2005. The set-menu is three courses and offers a wide variety of options in all three categories. Open all weeknights from 1730-2200. Reservations required.

NobHill

Classic San Francisco Bay Area cuisine is the specialty at NobHill, which features the inspirations of San Francisco’s renowned chef, Michael Mina. A consultant to the popular Bay Area restaurant Aqua and its branch in Las Vegas (see Business below), Mina create a casual, understated atmosphere for dining in the MGM Grand hotel (see Hotels). He blends Las Vegas pizzazz with Californian specialties. NobHill’s popular tasting menu includes Dungeness crab in a sweet poivre sauce and vanilla crepes with flambeed strawberries and Kirsch liqueur. Reservations recommended. No lunch.

Trattoria Del Lupo

Wolfgang Puck’s Trattoria Del Lupo at the Mandalay Bay Resort (see Hotels) could be called an American version of the Italian trattoria. Featuring a 25-seater bar that encircles the center of the restaurant, as well as individual dining and a private dining room for more intimate lunches and dinners, the restaurant boasts a bright and inviting design. Guests can also sit on the verandah and watch the crowd stroll by, although the casino atmosphere makes the surroundings rather noisy.

The restaurant features a blend of traditional Italian and American cuisine, such as Wolfgang’s inspired version of lasagne with braised beef and herb ricotta, and his unique portobello mushrooms, caramelized onion and goat’s cheese pizza. Serving sizes are ample, in accordance with the upper-scale prices. No lunch.

Business

Charlie Palmer Steak

Charlie Palmer is more than a steakhouse, as evidenced by its prestigious location in the Four Seasons Hotel (see Hotels). The cuisine may be North American but the ambience suggests a European touch, with high Spanish-style archways and rich tones lending themselves to intimate dining. Classic dishes include the European-style filet mignon and basil crusted Pacific salmon with balsamic brown butter. But it is the restaurant’s offering of European starters that sets it apart from the typical American steakhouse. A la carte dishes include seared Hudson Valley foie gras with sweet and sour blackberries or an iced shellfish platter with selected sauces. Reservations recommended. No lunch.

Il Fornaio

Italian cuisine has always been a specialty in Las Vegas. In days past, some of the town’s best Italian restaurants could be found in the secluded, quiet neighborhoods where the locals lived, rather than on the Strip. In this case, Las Vegas’ acclaimed restaurant Il Fornaio is located in one of the Strip’s busiest luxury hotels - the New York-New York. Although the ‘outside’ patio overlooking the casino provides an interesting view, it is noisy and smoky. The indoor dining provides a setting for more intimate smoke-free discussions. Signature dishes are Il Fornaio’s wood-fired rotisserie chicken and its pasta dishes. Reservations recommended.

Pegasus Restaurant

Alexis Park’s restaurant, Pegasus, offers an elegant atmosphere for business or leisure dining. Its dishes range from Chilean sea bass with a savoury mango sauce to chicken in Marsala sauce - a long-standing Las Vegas favorite. The restaurant also provides full room service for the hotel (see Hotels). Reservations recommended.

Veranda Cafe and Lounge, Clarion Emerald Springs

Designed to accommodate both casual and more formal dining, the Veranda is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The absence of a casino and throngs of vacationers at the Emerald Springs (see Hotels) makes this a comfortable setting for business dining. Evening specials often include prime rib or New York steak and the lounge also features a happy hour with hot and cold appetizers.

Trendy

Gonzalez y Gonzalez

With its ‘fiesta’ atmosphere of candy-filled pinata toys and brightly lit courtyard dining, Gonzalez in the New York-New York (see Hotels) is probably just as popular for its selection of traditional Mexican drinks as for its food. Typical dishes include the more stereotypical Mexican dishes of burritos, enchiladas and tacos (corn or flour tortillas filled with a choice of meat, vegetables and a spicy sauce). Drinks include an impressive selection of Mexican tequilas.

JJ’s Boulangerie

This small, open French-style bakery with terrace seating serves both pastries and freshly made sandwiches. The breads are all baked on the premises, although the individual items are probably more expensive than they would be in Paris. Set on the edge of a Parisian-style promenade, the bakery is a great place to people-watch while sipping a cappuccino. There is also an ice cream and confectionery counter featuring various light desserts at the back of the store.

Little Buddha

Las Vegas is famous for imitations and transplants. The trendiest restaurant of the moment is Little Buddha, capturing the eclectic atmosphere of the famous Buddha Bar in Paris, France. Diners enjoy superb Asian and Asian-fusion cuisine in an intimate setting while DJs spin their world-famous mixes and an over-sized golden benevolent Buddha looks on from on high.

Sampled recently were the steamed shrimp dumplings with lobster miso sauce and the Char Siu pork chop. The bar at Little Buddha is a special feature with a stream of water running through it, so ladies are warned to watch where they put their handbags or else risk a soaking. Located in The Palms Hotel and Casino (see Hotels), the restaurant is open daily Sun-Thu 1730-2300 and Fri-Sat 1730-2400. Reservations strongly suggested.

Mr Lucky’s

Where else would one find a classic hamburger and fries restaurant if not in a hotel-casino that immortalises Rock’n'Roll? Surrounded by memorabilia from the 1950s and 60s, Mr Lucky’s serves up the best of American casual favorites: hamburgers, fries, pasta and fountain drinks. Surprisingly, the homemade veggie burger has received even more raves than the ‘real’ thing. The casino, situated to the east of the Strip, also contains the world’s largest collection of rock memorabilia.

Budget

California Pizza Kitchen

This chain of restaurants takes the concept of pizza to the extreme. Its most popular creation is the barbecued chicken pizza - combining two of Southern California’s best dishes. Other unusual, but equally popular, versions are the Peking duck and garlic shrimp pizzas. The restaurant also serves a wide selection of pastas and salads, but unlike its other franchises, it does not tend to offer sandwiches. Located in the Sports and Race Book section of the Mirage hotel, the atmosphere can be noisy at times but never dull.

Chipotle

You had best be hungry…very hungry! Chipotle is a national chain of restaurants known for ‘Two Things - Thousands of ways’: their very generous burritos and tacos. These Mexican treats are so big in fact that they come equipped with forks to help better manage the task of devouring these savoury south-of-the-border sandwiches. Choose your favorite ingredients and the staff will make it your way. Some recent combos sampled were the vegetarian fajita burrito bowl made with a mind-blowing assortment of sauteed vegetables and delicious homemade guacamole and the Barbacoa burrito filled with spicy shredded beef braised with chipotle adobo, cumin, cloves, garlic and oregano. Chipotle offers two locations and is open daily from 1030 to 2300.

French Market Buffet

Las Vegas buffets that feature a range of international dishes have a tendency to hit and miss, but the French Market Buffet is considered one of the better all-you-can-eat restaurants of its kind. The buffet is designed in the form of an American food court, with separate serving stations surrounding a large dining area. Dishes range from Mexican spicy enchiladas and tacos, to Italian spaghetti and pizza or traditional American barbecued ribs. The price of each meal includes an all-you-can-eat dessert bar and on Sundays the restaurant offers a champagne brunch buffet.

Fresh Harvest Cafe

The Fresh Harvest Cafe, which is situated in Sam’s Town, to the west of the Strip, serves typical American favorites, from the standard American breakfast of bacon and eggs to steaks and hamburgers for lunch and dinner. The decor is typically American too - bright, airy, and reminiscent of the small-town Western-style diners that put many of its favorite menu items on the map. Its Blue Plate Special is a popular recent addition and features a special of the day, such as corned beef and cabbage or roast turkey. Desserts include a variety of fresh pies and ice cream. The restaurant is open 24 hours except on Tuesdays, when it closes at 2300.

Molly’s Buffet

Molly’s Buffet is located in the heart of Downtown, about 10 minutes north of the Strip, in Fitzgeralds Casino and Hotel. The casino’s image and colors are proudly Irish and its popular buffet has been rated one of the better moderately priced buffets in Downtown. Featuring bacon and egg breakfasts and evening prime-rib dinners, the food here could easily be called standard American, if it weren’t for its interesting mix of world cuisine at lunchtime. International cuisine in Las Vegas buffets can be fairly good or fairly poor representations of the real thing, depending upon the cook’s experience and the dishes featured. Molly’s, however, seems to hit the mark, as it is popular throughout the day.

Wild Oats

A popular North American natural foods franchise, Wild Oats is more than a grocery store. Its salad- and deli-counter offers a wide selection of dishes, from traditional vegan salads and soups to meat sandwiches. Customers can ‘mix and match’ their choices from the store and the deli-counter. Self-service seating is also available. The store is located in West Las Vegas, away from the main tourist areas but easily accessible by both public transportation and car.

Personal Recommendations

Drai’s

Opened in 1977 and still owned and operated by former film producer Victor Drai, Drai’s is nestled deep underneath the Barbary Coast Hotel and Casino, on the Las Vegas Strip. Accessible only by private elevator, Drai’s provides an opulent living room environment with plush sofas in the lounge, table and booth seating, intimate candle-lit corners and polished dark wood floors throughout.

The menu offers up steaks and seafood with Continental flair as well as an extensive wine list. Savour the famous seven hour leg of lamb or glazed chilean sea bass and crown your meal with the decadent hot chocolate souffle. A particular favorite with high rollers and celebrities, reservations are strongly recommended. Open daily from 1730-2400, Drai’s transforms from Wed-Sun (from 2400 until dawn) into one of the hottest after-hours nightclubs on The Strip.

Paymon’s Mediterranean Cafe and The Hookah Lounge

A true departure from the Strip, and situated in a small neighborhood shopping mall, Paymon’s Mediterranean Cafe and The Hookah Lounge serves up tasty Lebanese and Greek specialties in a choice of three environments; The Cafe and The Courtyard offer table dining and The Hookah Lounge specializes in long banquettes strewn with comfortable pillows for lounging.

Shish kebab and taouk, creamy tzatziki, hummus, vine leaves, the freshest tabouleh in Las Vegas, among many other Middle Eastern dishes can be ordered a la carte or in generous combination platters and are guaranteed to satisfy. The Hookah Lounge offers patrons a choice of over 20 premium Egyptian tobaccos with expert advice on blending flavors and is very popular with locals and savvy visitors. The Cafe is open Mon-Thur from 1100-0100, Fri-Sat 1100-0300 and Sun 1100-1700. The Hookah Lounge is open Mon-Thur 1700-0100, Fri-Sat 1700-0300 and is closed on Sundays. Reservations are not accepted.

Olive Garden

Situated to the east of the Strip, the Olive Garden, one of North America’s favorite chain restaurants, serves good Italian pasta dishes in plentiful amounts. Its ambience is meant to remind one of a boisterous Italian family dining room more than a fine ristorante. The decor is simple and relaxed and the atmosphere is airy and bright, with tables that will serve up to eight or more. The lasagna classico and the chicken parmigiana are two of the most popular dishes. The restaurant also serves a bottomless salad bowl and a hearty minestrone soup for lighter appetites.

PF Chang’s

PF Chang’s is a national chain of Asian Cuisine restaurants with several locations in and around Las Vegas that rarely disappoints. Suitable for couples and families alike, PF Chang’s offers delicious oriental fare and excellent value for the dollar in a trendy contemporary yet casual atmosphere. Service is fast and friendly and many menu items can be amended to accommodate food allergies, dietary restrictions and intensity of spice. Reservations recommended on weekends.

The Verandah

As the name suggests, The Verandah restaurant at the Four Seasons Hotel (see Hotels) offers both indoor and terrace seating for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Its semi-casual atmosphere is complemented by a surprisingly wide variety of ethnic dishes. Breakfast selections include a cholesterol-free omelette with fresh-baked goods, and a Japanese breakfast with miso soup, grilled salmon, pickled vegetables, rice and green tea. It also offers the standard American breakfast, with eggs, bacon, hash browns, juice and toast. Lunch and dinners are more formal but just as wide-ranging in terms of cuisine.